Good day and greetings to our live broadcast of the World Darts Championship Final happening at Alexandra Palace tonight.
Luke Littler has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the fourth man in history to secure three consecutive finals, triumphing over Gian van Veen 7-1 to clinch the world title and a prize of £1 million along with the prestigious Sid Waddell Trophy.
This victory propels the 18-year-old Littler to the top spot in the world rankings, while the defeated finalist, Van Veen, ascends to third place globally and becomes the top-ranked player in the Netherlands.
In an impressive display, ‘The Nuke’ defeated Ryan Searle 6-1 in the semi-final, while Gian van Veen, making his debut in a World Championship Final and second major final, overcame Gary Anderson in a thrilling 6-3 encounter.
Despite Van Veen having a prior advantage in their head-to-head record, Littler dominated the match by winning seven consecutive sets with an average of 106.02, tallying 16 180s, 19 140s, and a 46% success rate on doubles.
The World Darts Championship Final has concluded, paving the way for the upcoming Premier League Darts starting next month. Stay tuned to the Mirror for the latest updates on darts news.
Luke Littler, now a two-time PDC world champion, joins the elite ranks with only Phil Taylor (14) and Michael van Gerwen (three) having more titles than him. However, former world champion Wayne Mardle cautions Littler about the challenges ahead despite his current success.
Van Veen graciously acknowledged Littler’s superior performance, acknowledging his disappointment in not delivering a more competitive game. He expressed pride in reaching the final and achieving a higher ranking in the world and Dutch darts scene.
Luke Littler’s exceptional performance included claiming the Ballon d’Art for the most 180s with 73, while Gary Anderson followed closely with 59. Throughout the tournament, a total of 1127 180s were recorded, resulting in £1.1 million donated to Prostate Cancer UK by the tournament sponsors.
In a touching moment, Luke Littler paid tribute to the late friends of Anthony Joshua, quoting the former world champion’s famous words, “The first time was so nice, I had to do it twice.”
With his back-to-back world titles, Luke Littler solidifies his position as the number one player in the world rankings, marking a historic moment in his career.
Luke Littler has etched his name in darts history by achieving back-to-back World Championships, showcasing his exceptional skills and dominance in the sport.
